Wealth Without Borders Podcast

How do you become a successful expat? Is it by counting how many years you’ve stayed in a foreign country? Is it based on how good you are at your work? Or maybe it’s how fluent you are in Chinese that can get you some jobs in China? Maybe your perseverance plays a role as well? 

There are so many factors that can help you become a successful expat in China. But on your road to success, there are struggles such as communication barriers and homesickness. It is important to have a concrete goal as an expat and perseverance in order to succeed. 

Robbert Gorris has lived for more than 10 years in China and came to the conclusion that he is still at the beginning of his understanding. In his professional life, he works for Sovereign as the Business Development and Director of China and guides companies to enter China. He’s also the proud dad of two daughters who are both undergoing education in Chinese public school. 

In this episode, Robbert shares bits and pieces of his journey in becoming a successful expat in China. He also shares the lessons he has learned during his journey that can help answer other people’s questions on what it’s like to be an expat in China. 

 

What you will learn from this episode: 

• Learn the value of perseverance and its effect on becoming a successful expat in China 

• Discover what life in China is like through the eyes of an experienced Dutch expat who has stayed in China for 10-11 years 

• Find out how to manage living in a foreign country like China, far away from home, family, friends and familiar places 

 

“You need to accept the situation and move forward as quickly as possible but understand that things will change and will not go as planned.” 

- Robbert Gorris 

 

 

Topics Covered: 

01:37 - How Robbert became an expat 

03:30 - Robert shares his opinion on what makes China different from the rest of the world 

05:00 - Qualities needed to become a successful expat in China, according to Robbert 

06:49 - How Robbert copes up with long-distance connections away from family and friends 

08:26 - Is Robbert planning on becoming an expat in China permanently? 

09:27 - Did becoming an expat strengthen Robbert’s resilience? 

11:27 - Robbert shares tips for everyone who’s got a global focus or is planning to move to a foreign country 

12:37 - Robbert’s biggest learning from his years being an expat 

14:40 - Robbert shares one of his funniest memories of living in China 

18:11 - Robbert’s view on the changes in the expat world in the future 

21:32 - What would Robbert change if he was able to do it all again, 10-11 years ago 

 

Key Takeaways: 

 

“You need to be resilient and say, "Alright, let's go on, let's move forward." And also accept that where you came from has formed you and has formed the way you look at the world. And it doesn't mean that you need to change but you need to be conscious about that, that you have a specific view on the world, and that view can be - I don't want to say wrong - it's different.” - Robbert Gorris 

 

“I think it's important to understand that where you are born, it’s shaped you in the way you view the world. And as long as you accept that you view the world in a specific way, you will also be more open to views from other places in the world.” - Robbert Gorris 

 

“Deadlines are something that are in my imagination.” - Robbert Gorris 

 

“By the end, China doesn't care about what you think. It only influences yourself. So then by accepting that, by letting that go, you become more flexible. I think that also makes you more resilient because you're accepting things are not the way you think they are. And I think that's building your resilience by getting knocked down and getting surprised by the many things that happen in daily life in China.” - Robbert Gorris 

 

“Plans are important, especially in China, but you should not be bound to your plan because it could be your plan could be just faulty. By staying rigid to your plan it’s a very strong possibility that you will run into a disaster.” - Robbert Gorris 

 

“I say deadlines are not set in stone. Be flexible on what you're doing.” - Robbert Gorris 

 

“If you're here, you can maybe learn things that you can implement in your company in your home country.” - Robbert Gorris 

 

Ways to Connect with Robbert Gorris: 

• Website: https://www.sovereigngroup.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbertgorris/ 

 

Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: 

• Website: http://www.wealthwithoutborders.net    
• Podcast: https://wealthwithoutborders.net/podcast/  
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardwhiteson